Ettevaatliku

Ettevaatliku is the genitive singular form of the Estonian adjective ettevaatlik, which means cautious or prudent. The word is used to describe a noun in a genitive phrase, and it reflects standard Estonian adjective agreement patterns, where adjectives change form to match case and number of the noun they describe.

Etymology and meaning: The adjective ettevaatlik is formed from the prefix ette- meaning “in advance” or “beforehand” and the base vaatlik, which derives from watching or looking carefully. The combination conveys careful, wary, or prudent behavior and is widely used in everyday Estonian to characterize people, decisions, or actions.

Usage and grammar: Ettevaatliku functions as a regular Estonian adjective. Its form seen here—ettevaatliku—appears when modifying a masculine singular noun in the genitive case, as in ettevataatliku mehe otsus, meaning “the cautious man’s decision.” The base form ettevaatlik is used in the nominative singular (ta on ettevaatlik mees, he is a cautious man). In other cases and numbers, the ending of the adjective changes to agree with the noun.

Examples:

- Ta on ettevaatlik mees. (He is a cautious man.)

- Ettevaatliku mehe otsus. (The cautious man’s decision.)

- Ettevaatliku naise raha. (The cautious woman’s money.)

See also: ettevaatlik, Estonian adjectives, Estonian language grammar.